Hi ladies,

Havn't been on in a few days so hope everyone is well and all bumps are behaving themselves!

Anyway, OH and I went to first antenatal class last night and we covered what to pack in the (much discussed!) hospital bag. My midwife told us to def remember a pillow, not just because it's nice to have a touch of home while we're in labour but because they "usually don't have enough!".

Apparently the trust buy them in at the start of the financial year in April but by June there's a serious shortage, who'd want to steal a pillow?!!

Just to add this is at a large teaching hospital in Southampton, with specialist units etc so not a small hospital by any means. May well be worth packing one even if it's just left in the car!

33+1

I'm definitely bringing my own pillow. If I have to stay overnight it will definitely make me feel more comfortable and for some reason the idea of burying my face in a pillow that has been used by goodness knows how many other people, really creeps me out. Totally irrational though as have not problems with hotel pillows!

Hi

It is definately worth taking an extra pillow. I have spent weeks in and out of a certain very large hospital in Portsmouth that has just had millions spent on it but every time I went in women were limited to the number of pillows. I saw many a women coming in to be induced or for c section and thet all had pillows with them attached to their suitcases. You would have thought they would have extras in a maternity ward knowing the problems sleeping women have in late pregnancy. I will be taking pillows when I go back next time as it was really hard to sleep in a hospital bed with 2 flat pillows and very bad spd. Remember to write your name on the label of the pillow so that over eager bed changers don't take it - saw that happen. Also make sure you have a very bright pillowcase that sticks out. Someone had a kiddies garfield pillow case!!

It was just the fact that they usually don't have enough that got me!! I'm all about the pile of pillows at home (have got 5 and a big cushion atm) but the idea that if you forget to bring your own so therefore prob wont get one seems shocking. Giving birth is hardly an easy thing to go through without having to sleep on a folded up jumper or something afterwards!!